Apparatus for adjusting the position of a v-shaped tundish in two-strand continuous casting plants

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for adjusting the position of a V-shaped tundish in two-strand continuous casting plants in three positions perpendicular relative to each other, in particular when the tundish is exchanged, which comprises a column connected via a rotatable pedestal to the platform of a movable car. The column liftably and lowerably supports a tundish-connected carrier and is arranged close to the center of gravity of the tundish, a pivot-mechanism being connected to the tundish for horizontal pivoting thereof around the axis of the column.

United States Patent Dub et a1. 5] Dec. 16, 1975 APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE [56] References Cited POSITION OF A V-SHAPED TUNDISH IN UNITED STATES PATENTS TWO'STRAND CONTINUOUS CASTING 3,556,349 1/1971 Festivalnaya et a1. 164/281 x PLANTS 3,817,318 6/1974 Greenberger et al 222/ 160 Inventors: Karl Dub, Vienna; Stefan Biricz, Linz, both of Austria Assignee: Vereinigte Osterreichische Eisenund Stahlwerke Alpine Montan Aktiengesellschaft Filed: Feb. 18, 1975 Appl. No.: 550,607

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 19, 1974 Austria 1300/74 US. Cl. 222/160; 164/281; 164/337;

222/461 Int. Cl? B22D 37/00; B22D 41/12 Field of Search 222/160, 461; 164/337,

164/281; 222/DIG. 1, DIG. 23, 176

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerDavid A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,926,346

US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet2of2 3,926,346

FIG .4

APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF A V-SHAPED TUNDISH IN TWO-STRAND CONTINUOUS CASTING PLANTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting the position of a V-shaped tundish in two-strand continuous casting plants in three directions perpendicular relative to each other, especially when the tundish is exchanged, with a liftable and lowerable carrier for the tundish, which carrier is mounted on a movable car.

In operating two-strand continuous casting plants it is necessary to adjust the outflow openings of the tundish, into which casting tubes reaching below the metal level in the mould are inserted, exactly to the axis of the moulds, each of whichindividually is forwardly and backwardly displaced, respectively. Such adjustments occur currently while the continuous casting plant is in operation. The precise adjustment is especially important when the tundish is exchanged, which has to be done very quickly, so that pauses due to interruption of the casting do not occur.

According to a suggestion not yet belonging to the prior art, a V-shaped tundish is arranged on a liftable and lowerable lifting table, which in turn is secured on a car being movable transversally to the casting direction. Since the lifting table, which carries the tundish, is relatively large dimensioned, for reasons of space it is not possible to arrange the lifting means near the center of gravity, i.e. between the branches on the inside of the V-shaped tundish, but the lifting cylinders are arranged outside the lifting table, removed from the axis of gravity, on the car. In order to allow a forward and backward movement of the tundish, perpendicular relative to the direction of lifting, the tundish is supported by means of three stanchions arranged on the lifting table in Cardan-like manner, and pivotable driving cylinders are provided in the horizontal direction for the drive. The Cardan-like fastening requires a rather complex construction and the kinematics is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention has as its object to achieve the desired movability and adjustability of the tundish in three directions perpendicular relative to each other with simple and safe constructional means and consists in that the carrier connected to the tundish rests liftably and lowerably on a column arranged near the center of gravity of the tundish, which column is secured on a pedestal or foot part that is rotatably mounted in the car platform, the column being eccentrical of the axis of the pedestal or foot part, and that the tundish is connected to a fixable pivot-mechanism which allows for a horizontal pivoting of the tundish around the axis of the column. This additional pivot-mechanism is necessary in order to adjust the outflow openings to the axes of the moulds, each of which is forwardly and backwardly displaceable and which have to be oriented according to the guiding rollers of the casting bow.

Advantageously, the pivot-mechanism comprises, connected to the wall of the tundish, a vertical guiding roll which engages with two counter rollers arranged opposite each other and secured to a pivotable and fixable fork or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, a telescopic, preferably a hydraulically driven, piston is provided at the upper end of the columnfor lifting and lowering the carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the tundish is denoted with 1. It is V- shaped, has a refractory lining, and in each branch it has an outflow opening 2. It ought to be liftable and lowerable, and it ought to be forwardly and backwardly displaceable transversally relative to the casting direction of the steel strands. Furthermore, it ought to be pivotable (FIG. 2) in the direction of the double arrows. Finally, it ought to be horizontally displaceable in the direction of the dotted double arrows of FIGS. 2 and 1, which is effected with the help of a car.

According to FIG. 3, the tundish is carried by a hator pot-like carrier 3, which encloses the column 5 at whose upper end a telescopic, hydraulically driven piston 4 is provided. This column 5 rests on a pedestal 6 or is integrally connected to it, and the connection is made in such a way that the axis 7 of the column 5 is eccentrically arranged to the axis 8 of the pedestal 6 (FIG. 3). The pedestal is rotatably mounted by means of a ball bearing 9 and a taper roller bearing 10 in the car platform 11 (FIG. 3). At the pedestal, an arm 12 engages column 5, which arm is connected via a linkage 13 to the hydraulic drive 14 (FIG. 1). On the rear wall of the tundish a web plate 15 is arranged (FIG. 2), at whose end a guiding roll 16 is rotatably arranged. This guiding roll engages with two counter rollers 17, 18 which are secured to a fork-shaped carrying body 20 which is pivotable around the axis 19. The fork-shaped carrying body 20 is activated by means of the hydraulic drive 21.

The apparatus according to the invention function as follows:

For a movement in the direction of the dotted arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2, the car together with the lifting means and the tundish is moved on the rails. For a forward or backward movement, respectively, in the direction of the double arrows of FIG. 1, the linkage 13 is activated, i.e. the column 5 is displaced, eccentrically relative to the axis 8, by means of the arm 12, which roughly corresponds to a parallel displacement of the casting openings 2. In FIG. 1 the possible parallel displacement is indicated by the full and the dotted lines of the tundish. In this movement a pivoting around the column is prevented by a standstill of the drive 21; the roll 16 and the rollers 17 and 18 act as a guide. In a pivoting movement in the direction of the double arrows according to FIG. 2, the drive 14 stands still, which excludes a forward and backward movement; instead, the tundish is'pivoted around the axis 7 of the column 5. The position of the tundish as shown in FIG. 2 is the final position of the tundish pivoted in clockwise direction relative to FIG. 1.

From FIG. 3 it can also be seen that the hator potlike part 3 conically widens at its lower end 22. This fa- 3 cilitates the exchange of the tundishes. With 23 slide bushings are denoted which facilitate the lifting and pivoting of the carrier 3.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for position-adjusting a V-shaped tundish in three directions perpendicular relative to each other, in particular when exchanging the tundish, in two-strand continuous casting plants, comprising:

a liftable and lowerablc carrier connected to said tundish,

a column arranged close to the center of gravity of said tundish and liftably and lowerably supporting said carrier,

a movable car with a platform,

a pedestal, rotatably arranged in said platform and supporting said column in a position eccentrical of the axis of said pedestal,

a fixable pivot-mechanism connected to the tundish for horizontal pivoting thereof around the axis of said column.

4 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said column in integrally connected to said pedestalv 3. An apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said column has a telescopic piston arranged at its upper end for lifting and lowering said carrier.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said telescopic piston is hydraulically driven.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1. wherein said pivot-mechanism comprises a vertical guiding roll connected to the tundish wall, two counter rollers arranged opposite each other and engaging said guiding roll, a pivotable and fixable member supporting said two counter rollers. 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said pivotable and fixable member is fork-shaped.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including means for moving said column in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of said car. 

1. An apparatus fOr position-adjusting a V-shaped tundish in three directions perpendicular relative to each other, in particular when exchanging the tundish, in two-strand continuous casting plants, comprising: a liftable and lowerable carrier connected to said tundish, a column arranged close to the center of gravity of said tundish and liftably and lowerably supporting said carrier, a movable car with a platform, a pedestal, rotatably arranged in said platform and supporting said column in a position eccentrical of the axis of said pedestal, a fixable pivot-mechanism connected to the tundish for horizontal pivoting thereof around the axis of said column.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said column in integrally connected to said pedestal.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said column has a telescopic piston arranged at its upper end for lifting and lowering said carrier.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said telescopic piston is hydraulically driven.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim
 1. wherein said pivot-mechanism comprises a vertical guiding roll connected to the tundish wall, two counter rollers arranged opposite each other and engaging said guiding roll, a pivotable and fixable member supporting said two counter rollers.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said pivotable and fixable member is fork-shaped.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including means for moving said column in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of said car. 